Kenya Conference of Catholic Bishops (KCCB) Commission for Education and Religious Education, Chairman Rt. Reverend. Mark Kadima has urged principals to mentor young teachers to be professionals.
Speaking during The Catholic Schools Principals’ Association (Caspa-K) Conference (10th Edition) Catholic University of Eastern Africa (Cuea) in Nairobi said the head of the institutions should induct them thoroughly into the ethos of Catholic education, school’s culture, and the expectations of their professional conduct.
“A proper induction process is not just a formality it is an initiation into the vocation of teaching, which is as much a ministry as it is a profession,” he said
Rev Kadima noted that it is only through listening and walking with our colleagues that we come to recognize signs of distress, burnout, or moral lapses before they cause harm.
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“The recent reports of male teachers allegedly grooming young girls in their schools and later engaging in inappropriate relationships with them are disturbing and put a stain on the noble teaching profession, this is not just a moral failure – it also points to a lapse in leadership,” he said.
The Reverend pointed out that schools where such situations unfold without detection suggests that those in charge did not maintain a close eye on the interactions and programs within the school.
He told the principals to be vigilant and present, he noted that some of staff may be silently battling mental health issues, family problems, or moral confusion and they should offer them mentorship, counseling, and, where possible, encourage psychosocial support.
The principals were also directed to prepare their schools for the first cohort of learners will be transitioning from Junior School to Senior School.
The Metropolitan Archbishop of Nairobi Reverend Philip Anyolo said the teachers stand at the front line of shaping the minds, hearts, and souls of the next generation.
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He also challenged them to address mental health issues in catholic schools, by being pastoral and mentoring the teachers and listening to them.
“We cannot turn a blind eye to what is happening among our teachers and learners. We have sadly received reports of teachers struggling with depression, alcohol dependency, and even some taking their own lives. These are not just statistics – they are people under our care. Some of them are new to the profession, uncertain of their footing, carrying burdens they cannot share,” Rev Anyolo said.
The Reverend also challenged the head teachers not to be quick to recommend disciplinary action to learners without understanding the root of the problem they have, he said many of them come from homes grappling with unemployment, poverty, domestic violence, and hopelessness. School, for many of them, is their only haven.
The three days CaSPA-K conference brought over 1,000 principals from Catholic-sponsored schools, it provided a platform for principals to be equipped with knowledge and skills to lead their schools effectively, particularly in the context of Catholic education.
By Obegi Malack
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